Information for patients

Links

Wellington Hospital
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Clementine Churchill BMI (Harrow)
Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital

Patient testimonials

First, I can’t thank you enough for all your time, interest and care on Thursday.

Secondly, the one stop ‘plumb and sparks’ shop is seriously impressive, staffed by great, caring and efficient people who are fun. In about an hour to do an echo, treadmill test and take 49 blood samples etc. must be close to a W.R....

Seriously, from the patients point of view you are offering full diagnostics almost in the ‘golden hour’ whereas with most other approaches it takes more like a month! The expeditious approach apart from removing patients uncertainty which often weighs heavily means if necessary you are in to treatment almost immediately....

Patients will definitely feel that they and their quality of lfe is being put first.

Mr Y. (2010) Suffolk.

Angina

This typically is a discomfort, heaviness or pain in the centre of the chest, spreadling down to the arm, up into the neck, jaw or the teeth. It can be associated with a sensation of breathlessness, nausea or sweating. If these are the symptoms you are experiencing, than you must lose no time in having them evaluated. Normally, your cardiologist will see you promptly and arrange for a resting Electrocardiogram (ECG) and a Exercise Treadmill/Bike test (ETT). If you are unable to perform physical exercise for any reason, such as arthritis of physical disability, the Cardiologist may well arrange a different type of non-invasive test, such as a Stress Echocardiogram (DSE) or a nuclear myocardial perfusion scan (MPS). If your Cardiologist thinks your symptoms are so severe and you are at high risk, he will waste no time in arranging for you to have a Coronary Angiogram with a view to proceeding to Coronary Angioplasty (PCI) or Coronary Bypass Surgery (CABG).

In addition, the cardiologist will need to start drug treatment, He will give you a GTN spray-to help you if you get pain. In addition he will give you aspirin to thin the blood. A cholesterol lowering tablet (statin) is also known to reduce the risk of you having a heart attack, stroke or dying. He may also give you an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), which is also known to reduce the risk of such serious events. Finally, he will need to treat the symptoms that you get. This will involve choosing from beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, nitrates, nicorandil or ivradabine.

Heart Attack (MI): If you have these symptoms at rest and they last more than 15 minutes then you should seek urgent help. Calling 999 will summon an ambulance to take you to the nearest A+E department. Although it may not be a heart attack, or myocardial infarction, it is best to be safe rather than sorry. If you are having a heart attack, the best treatment is to have emergency or “primary” angioplasty (PPCI).

Angina

ECG showing a heart attack-This needs immediate treatment in hospital.